Eleven months ago, Claire Laurenson and small team of ten other Bonnyrigg Hub members re-launched ‘Bonnyrigg Fun Day’. It was a popular success and an amazing achievement given there was only six weeks planning time. There was some super project management skills and teamwork involved!

This year, Claire has stepped out of the Hub and is focussing on developing the Fun Day with its own identity. Bonnyrigg Hub is proud to have contributed to bringing back the Fun Day and looks forward to its continued success and development. The Hub will transfer the entire surplus of £1,184.40 from event activities to the new group of Fun Day organisers.

"The Hub continues to pioneer new activities like: Community Cinema (Oct), Bonfire Picnic (Nov), Willow wreaths (Dec) and family Ceilidh. If you want to help pioneer one of these please come to our gathering on 1 July. Its a social from 7pm and a sit down Hub Meet 8-9pm. All welcome.

Discussion about Wacky Races and fun day.Claire expressed a willingness to run Bonnyrigg Fun Day independently. The Hub handed fully responsibility to her. Folk were encouraged to help this transition. More below.

Community willow bed has been cut. There are piles of willow for anyone to pick up and use. Please pass the word on. Useful for willow domes/fences, baskets and crafts. Burnbrae Primary will be using some for patching a dome. (Also bundles set aside for other schools) A passing granny took some for her grandson in Saltersgate who had been asking for some :). Thanks to Marie Knowles, Jade Knowles, Ali Aitkin, Kevin Aitkin, Reuben Welch, April Welch and Willow Welch for grafting for 2 hours. Also thanks to Darius Namdaran for organizing it.

Minutes of General Meeting of Hub members. 23 February 2015, Held at Pavillion. 7.30pm

)Welcome.2) Present: Claire Laurenson CL(tonight’s Chair), Jan Irvine, JI, Ian Baxter IB, Joy Godfrey JG Darius Namdaran (minutes) DN, Reuben Welch RW, Liz Sommerville, LS3) Apologies: Martin Meteyard, Rosemary Mackay, Douglas Strachan, Elaine Abercrombie4) January Minutes agreed without change, proposed RW, DNseconded.5)Action points/ Matters arising. January. LS collected the information regarding possible Ceilidh which will appear in future Proposal form submission.6) Projects.a)The draft event/ project proposal form created by working group of Directors was explained by CL and discussed including a scenario of how this might work in reality. Several suggestions for minor alterations were made and noted by CL for inclusion to draft presented at next Directors meeting.Action CL b)Forthcoming events /timetable. All events should make use of the new Proposal form to streamline the Hub proceduresCeilidh. No date set, suggested costs for band at ex- Servicenmans Club £300/£500 for 2/3 piece band. Organisational support required for this. DN to contact Rebecca McInneyAction DNEgg rolling. 5th April. Church groups to be contacted Action DN CL/ LS offered to assist on the day (Plant swap not discussed)Wacky Race/Picnic. 28th June. RW offered to lead Action RW /DNFunday. Awaiting confirmation ,provisionally 30th AugAction CLFuture re-brand, suggested “Bonnyfest”Other events to be agreed later in year7) AGMa) Renewal of membership. 76 former 2014 members have renewed online to date. Paper renewals need to be addressed Action RW /DNb) Call for AGM motions. No further motions received(Action Douglas Strachan)8) Finance. Full update will be ready by next Directors meeting. As of 21st January the account stood at 5648.42 Action IB9)Any Other Business.a) Newsletter. A substantial amount of effort has gone into the newsletter recently thanks to JG.. Thanks also to LS for contacting local shops re advertising. To complete the task the following needs to be done this weekAvailable space/ printers details sent to JGAction DNA webpage listing advert space & FAQs available created asap.Action JGDropbox information/ photos needs forwarded to PrintersAction JGPossible advertisers alerted to webpage via social media/other means Action allThose advertisers directed to IB for payment/invoicing Action IBArtwork to be then sent direct to Printers by individual advertisers based on info supplied on webpage created by JG (above)b)Just Giving. The creation of a JustGivingpage/addressfor potential donors was agreed in time for newsletter if possible.Action IB10) Next meeting dates . General Meeting at Pavilion 23rd March 2015AGMPitcairn Centre 27th April 2015.(ActionDN to confirm booking)Douglas would chair the next meeting. Douglas would chair the AGM in AprilMeeting ended at 9..ish

Bonnyrigg Community Hub represents a community coming together to address local needs. The initial focus was on how these needs could be met by re-using the former leisure centre, but this year has shown how local people connecting with each-other and sharing their passions is what really makes a Hub! The Bonnyrigg Centre Trust’s business plan for a physical Hub in the former leisure centre was proven to be viable, but the Council has chosen to explore other options for the building. The idea of a Hub catalysed an inspiring level of community spirit, however, and it was quickly decided to redirect this into forming a Hub without a building. This started with a series of fun events in the park, including a community picnic, the revival of Bonnyrigg Fun Day and the first ever Wacky Races. Over the coming year, the Hub will also be developing a number of projects to address local needs. Bonnyrigg Community Hub is made up of volunteers working for the enjoyment and benefit of local residents. It remains open to the involvement of anyone who is interested, and everyone is encouraged to join-up as a member.

Every year Bonnyrigg gets a special pre-Christmas visit from Santa, especially arranged by Poltonhall Gala Day group. In 2014, with some extra help from Bonnyrigg Hub, Santa was able to visit all the streets in Bonnyrigg. He visited over six nights, handing out lollies and helping Poltonhall Gala Day group raise funds for their 2015 gala day. Amazingly the grand total was £3,559.94. Thanks to the community for their generosity, the 72 volunteers and, of course, to Santa for visiting us!

In late November some creative Bonnyrigg residents learned to make the bases for Christmas wreaths using willow from the community willow bed in the Park. Complete beginners went from harvesting the willow to creating their finished wreath in only forty minutes! One Mum said, “Thanks for a great wreath making workshop today. The whole family just loved learning a new skill. What a great idea and wonderful thing to bring the community together. Bonnyrigg Hub is awesome!” We are glad to hear it! Most people made wreaths, though at least one person made earrings!

Bonnyrigg youth put on their own 'Jam' (trick competition) to role-model their view of the Skatepark as a positive place all about fun. Mondo Loco helped them get organised and Bonnyrigg Hub donated hot dogs and burgers and put on hot chocolate. The youth helped with the BBQ and timing the competitors. It was a great dry run with lots of learning opportunities about event planning and management which is sure to make the skate jams bigger and better as young people grow in confidence and skills. Special thanks to the Co-op for freezing our burgers between events!

On a darkening November day, in King George IV Park some of Bonnyrigg’s intrepid children and families entered the Wacky Races put on by Bonnyrigg Hub. There were carts and bogies of all descriptions, and all sorts of outfits to match. Competition was somewhat fierce, as many children (and their Dads! And Mums!) wanted to win. Bonnyrigg Hub put on this event so parents and children could together design and create their own race cart or bogie, and then race it for real in a competition. One father commented, “I have never felt more like a Dad”. This event will be on again this year, and you don’t even need to build a bogie – you can borrow one! But be warned, something tell us the competition may be even tougher! Meanwhile in the tea tent there were hot drinks, a chocolate fountain, toffee apples and Halloween themed home baking. Burgers and Hotdogs helped keep the cold out, and the ones we didn’t cook were donated to the local youth their upcoming skate ‘Jam’.

In September, Bonnyrigg Co-op asked Bonnyrigg Community Hub to open their revamped store. It was the first of the Co-ops in Scotland to get the upgrade. Each season they support a different community group and their customers wanted them to start with the Hub. Thank you to the Co-op!